WIYAALA

Afrofolk, Afrofusion, Afropop, World Music

Biography

Wiyaala, which means “the doer” in her local Sissala dialect, is from Funsi in the Upper West Region of Ghana close to the borders of Burkina Faso and Cote D’Ivoire.

Fiercely independent and proud, Wiyaala is sometimes referred to as the "Young Lioness of Africa". Her music references West African Folk traditions with contemporary Afro-Pop, sometimes drawing comparisons with Angelique Kidjo. A notion that Wiyaala rejects wholeheartedly.

The second of four sisters and thanks to her musical mother, Wiyaala “dodged” FGM and child marriage whilst attracting attention as a child entertainer, dancer, artist and footballer despite growing up in a patriarchal society frequently hostile to artistic growth, especially in women.

In 2012, she travelled to the “big city” Accra, and won the Vodafone Icons Reality Show. After being “spotted” by Rita Ray of BBC’s Global Beats in 2014, Wiyaala has emerged as one of Ghana’s leading international touring artists performing at top events and festivals all over the world, including the Commonwealth Games 2018 in Australia, WOMAD UK, Green Man, Kendal Calling, Shambala and Timitar Festival in Morocco.

Wiyaala, who designs and sews her unique stage costumes, is well known for promoting her village roots, where she frequently holds events to encourage the local children to develop their creativity and sense of self worth.

References : BBC News- "Ghanaian Afro pop star Wiyaala on forging her own path"Irish Times- "Feisty is not the word – Wiyaala is a powerhouse in the mode of a young Angelique Kidjo, effervescent and funny, she rocked the crowd"